Using fire for innovative silviculture solutions in Ulkatcho Territory
Project Title: Using fire for innovative silviculture solutions in Ulkatcho Territory
Recipient: Thompson Rivers University
Region: Cariboo Region
Awarded Amount: $14,892
Project period: 2025-2026
Description: The Capacity Building Grant will support Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in expanding collaboration and research with the Ulkatcho First Nation (Anahim, BC) to explore the use of fire in innovative silviculture practices within Ulkatcho Territory. This funding will enable in-community meetings, enhance knowledge-sharing, and strengthen local expertise in land management. By fostering this partnership and providing key resources, the grant aims to equip the Ulkatcho community with the tools needed for informed decision-making, supporting the ecological resilience of their managed forests.
Halfway Reporting:
The following is based on halfway reporting by the grantee.
August 25, 2025
Helena, Jill and Graham, an Ulkatcho Guardian, head out on floatplane to look for field sites (Photo by Jill Harvey)
Our TRU research team visited Anahim Lake to meet with the Ulkatcho community from August 18-21. As part of this visit, we toured the Territory by float plane with a land guardian, and visited the site of the old Ulkatcho village at Gatcho Lake. Over a community lunch, we shared findings from our concluding project on caribou and wildfire and learned about forestry and caribou challenges the community is facing. The montane forests are a complex patchwork of forest harvesting, wildfire impacts, mountain pine beetle – all disturbances that have affected the people and caribou. We are now planning our next visit to the community in early November to discuss research questions on silviculture, the use of fire, caribou and mountain pine beetle. The forested lands around Anahim are spectacular and full of life and stories. Nestled against the eastern flanks of the Coast Mountains, the scenery is some of the most beautiful we’ve ever seen.
A complex landscape of forest harvest, mountain pine beetle affected stands and wildfire. (Photo by Jill Harvey)
A mountain pine beetle affected stand. Challenging forests from both harvest and caribou perspectives. (Photo by Jill Harvey)
Looking northwest across the Dean River (Photo by Jill Harvey)
Community gathering in Anahim to share results from a caribou-wildfire project and discuss our silviculture-caribou-fire project. (Photo by Jill Harvey)